Question:

Someone told me that the CIA ships furniture to its agents around the world. That’s not really true, is it?

 

June 28, 2020

Answer:

I can’t answer for what is being done currently, but back in the 1980s I worked with various furniture manufacturing clients selling furniture to U.S. government agencies (both in the U.S. and overseas.)

The CIA was a frequent customer for one of my clients. All of the furniture purchased by the CIA was shipped to a Northern Virginia warehouse. From there it was sent on all over the world but we never knew the final destinations.

Working with the CIA purchasing people was “different” than working with other customers. The following is an absolutely true conversation I once had with a CIA “procurement specialist.”

Me: “Hello, I just received Purchase Order # _____ from your office but there is no shipping destination listed. Where would you like us to deliver the furniture?”

CIA: “One moment sir,” [30 second wait before she comes back on the phone.] “I’m sorry, I am not allowed to give you that information.”

Me: “Well, who would be able to give me that information?”

CIA: “One moment sir,” [30 second wait before she comes back on the phone.] “I’m sorry, I am not allowed to give you that information.”

Me: “I don’t think you understand. Your office ordered this furniture. It needs to be delivered somewhere, but the address is missing from the order. I just need to know where to send the shipment.

CIA: “One moment sir,” [30 second wait before she comes back on the phone.] “I’m sorry, I am not allowed to give you that information.”

Me: “We’ve received many orders from your office in the past. They almost always went to a warehouse in _____, Virginia. Do you want us to send this to the same location?

CIA: “One moment sir,” [30 second wait before she comes back on the phone.] “Yes, please deliver to the same location.”

Me: “Great! What was that address again so I can fill in the form?”

CIA: “One moment sir,” [30 second wait before she comes back on the phone.] “I’m sorry, I am not allowed to give you that information.”

Me: “Never mind. I’ll just look it up from the last order.”

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